Albania

TIRANA � 28 February 2008 � The Albanian Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Water Administration and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed two projects to tackle the issue of environmental hotspots in Albania.  These projects are implemented within a broader framework of the One UN Programme.

Several studies on environmental hotspots, conducted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) conclude that they are a serious concern and immediate action is required in order to protect human health and the environment. The National Environmental Action Plan for Albania (2002) reported that there are estimated 3,100 tons of chemicals in the public economy sector and 1,000 tons of pesticides in the agricultural sector. Many are obsolete stocks and represent different levels of risk for health and the environment and need to be effectively managed.  

The project Identification and prioritization of environmental hotspots in Albania foresees the identification and in-depth assessment of environmental hotspots in Albania as well as the creation of a database, and capacity building for the environmental administration to further identify and monitor hotspots and plan remedial actions.

�I appreciate the contribution of the donors for the rehabilitation of this very important area for a stable economic, tourist and environmental development of the country and the creation of a database that will help eliminate hot spots from the map of Albania,� said Minister of Environment, Forestry and water Administration Mr. Lufter Xhuveli.

The project is financed by the Dutch Government, with a budget of 1,299,686 USD.

The second project that was signed Strengthening capacities in Western Balkan countries to mitigate environmental problems through remediation of high priority hotspots is part of a regional programme and covers nine hotspots in the Western Balkans region. The area to be rehabilitated in Albania is the Bajza railway station near Shkodra Lake where expired pesticides and industrial chemicals have been stored.

Through this joint project, the Government and UNDP aim at achieving environmentally sustainable development in Albania by integrating the principles of sustainable development into national and local policies and programmes, observing the commitments of the Albanian Government within the EU accession process.

�Human development is at the centre of what UNDP does in the country,� said UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative G�lden T�rk�z-Cosslett.  �Through this project we aim at improving the quality of life for citizens living in and around polluted areas, improve the environmental situation by encouraging sound local and national policy dialogue.�

The regional programme amounts to 15 million USD and covers nine hotspots in the region. This programme is also financed by the Dutch Government.  The budget allocated for the Albanian component is 2,118,840 USD

About the Bajza area:

Bajza is a small town (Kastriati Commune) situated in the northern part of Albania, about 15 km from Shkodra city. The Bajza railway station is located at the shore of Shkodra Lake and all railroad transportation to and from Montenegro passes Bajza railway station and its customs clearance.  In the early 1990s, an estimated 200 to 250 tons of expired pesticides, industrial chemicals and other materials were stored at the Bajza railway station. During 1991 and 1992, 480 tons of hazardous chemicals were imported and temporarily stored in Bajza. The most notable of these chemicals are toxaphene and phenyl mercury acetate, both of which have been banned in the EC since 1983. Although most of these pesticides were returned to Germany in 1993 for safe disposal, people from the surrounding area had raided the station and took many of the barrels emptying toxic chemicals directly at the railway station and storage areas. It was also reported that several sheep that grazed around the storage areas and beside the railway station had died after the incident took place. Moreover, fishermen at Shkodra Lake had reported unusual numbers of dead fish in the Lake.